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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reduced the death sentence passed on Maryam Sanda to 12 years imprisonment.
In the final list of the presidential prerogative of mercy, Maryam, who was convicted and sentenced to death on charges of culpable homicide on January 27, 2020, had her death sentence by hanging reduced to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate grounds.
The compassionate grounds considered for the pardon are her model prison behavior, embrace of new life and the well-being of her children.
A statement by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Wednesday also indicated that four Nigerians sentenced to death have their sentence reduced to life imprisonment.
They are Emmanuel Baba, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar and Mohammed Umar.
Fagbemi explained that the release of the final list followed the conclusion of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise with the President’s issuance of instruments granting pardon, clemency, and reduced sentences.
It will be recalled that following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review.
“This exercise has been completed and approved by the President. This exercise was to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements would benefit from the prerogative of mercy.
“During this final review, few persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were accordingly delisted, while in some other cases, sentences were reviewed and reduced to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.
“This exercise underscores the President’s desire to balance justice with compassion and the belief that justice must not only punish, but also reform and redeem.
“The review was undertaken with meticulous commitment to due process to reinforce the administration’s broader commitment to justice reform and humane correctional practices in line with international standards.
“To ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice
“The President has further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.
“This will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release,” the statement released by the AGF said.
Fagbemi commended the public for their patience and constructive engagement throughout the process, and assured Nigerians that the government remains steadfast in promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity while safeguarding national security and social order.
Maryam Sanda’s death sentence commuted to 12 years imprisonment
